Craig Demars

Low rates
of calf recruitment (survival to 1 year of age) are a key demographic factor
limiting populations of boreal caribou, an ecotype of woodland caribou (Rangifertarandus caribou)
federally designated as Threatened under
the Species at Risk Act. Predation is the primary cause of calf
mortality and increasing predation of caribou has been linked to increasing
levels of landscape alteration. The
highest rates of calf predation occur during the spring calving season with
cow-calf ratios – a measure of calf recruitment – often falling
below levels necessary for population stability (e.g. 28 calves / 100 cows) by
the end of the neonate (0-6 weeks of age) time period. Effective conservation of boreal caribou
populations in increasingly altered landscapes requires innovative management
strategies to reduce predation risk to caribou during the calving season. A key objective of this project is to
develop new management recommendations for reducing predation risk to caribou
calves. To that end, we will be
evaluating the relative importance of spatial factors thought to influence
predation risk, specifically: calving habitat selection, larger-scale
characteristics of landscape pattern, and predator space use during the
critical neonate time period. During 2011, we successfully deployed radio-collars on 25 female caribou
to assess calving habitat selection. For 2012, we will be deploying radio-collars on black bears and wolves
to assess predator space use. The
project represents a collaborative effort among industry, government, academia
and non-governmental organizations and we anticipate the project’s outcomes
will improve the effectiveness of management strategies aimed at minimizing
development impacts within caribou ranges.